Nadia Doukali, initiator of Ramadan calendar, said she "will be happy if the calendar is used to establish a dialogue between Muslims and Christians," as she presented her creation in Frankfurt, Sunday.

Parts of New South Wales (NSW) including some districts of Sydney had to be evacuated, Sunday, as torrential rain and strong winds have triggered heavy floodwaters. Authorities issued a flood evacuation order advising residents of low-lying districts to leave their houses and look for other accommodation. Reports suggest that 500 people have already been evacuated across NSW.In the footage, residents can be seen maneuvering a inflatable boat through a flooded residential area.Footage courtesy of Anthony Peterson @jouberjoubert

Hundreds gathered at the port of Barcelona, Sunday, to protest against mass tourism during the inauguration of the world's largest cruise ship, the 'Harmony of The Seas,' which can accommodate up to 9,000 passengers.Over the past years, the city of Barcelona has seen an impressive increase in the flow of tourists and is now considered to be one of the most exotic destinations in the world, which according to protesters, makes the city uninhabitable for local residents, especially over the summer season.According to recent statistics, Barcelona is the fourth European city after London, Paris and Rome, which welcomes the highest number of tourists per year.

France’s Education minister, Najat Vallaud Belkacem, has found herself on the firing line since revealing a plan to teach Arabic to primary school kids as young as six. Belkacem has suggested including Arabic among the language choices for French pupils.

Several people were killed and injured by suspected Islamists, who stole weapons from gun shops and attacked a military base, the country’s Interior Ministry said. Earlier, local media reported firefights and mass evacuations in the city of Aktobe.

Parts of the subway system in Washington DC are shutting down this weekend for badly needed repairs. Mass transit in some US cities is crumbling from neglect and a serious lack of funding. But a new line in Los Angeles offers a promise of economic growth.

The Swiss probably rejected two popular initiatives that constituted the latest threat to the country’s business-friendly environment.

Voters dismissed a measure that would have reduced the pay of Swisscom AG’s chief executive officer by three quarters and also shot down a proposal to establish an universal basic income, according to projections broadcast on Swiss television SRF on Sunday. While surveys indicated the latter would fail, the outcome of the so-called Pro Service Public initiative aiming to improve public services had been considered too close to call. Official results are due later in the day.

Following what received as updating news from RTNews, this is the actual situation in Aktobe:

Three people were killed and 10 others injured by suspected Islamists, who stole weapons from gun shops and attacked a military base, the country’s Interior Ministry said. Earlier, local media reported firefights and mass evacuations in the city of Aktobe.

A shop manager and two soldiers were killed by the assailants, who targeted the city located in north-western Kazakhstan on Sunday, officials said. The people, including nine soldiers were injured in clashes.

“Thanks to the countermeasures one of the attackers was arrested, three killed and another one injured. Several of the perpetrators were blocked while some others managed to escape. A manhunt for them is underway,” ministry spokesman Almas Sadubayev told journalists.

..................(omissis).........

Local media reports suggested that there were from 20 to 30 gunman engaged in the shootout. Some media said the gunmen took several hostages.The website Tengrinews.kz put the number of casualties higher, citing medical sources as saying that some 20 people with gunshots were taken to the hospital.

Dozens of gunmen in shootout with police, taking hostages in Kazakhstan

A manhunt is reportedly under way in western Kazakhstan for people who robbed gun shops and are engaged in a shootout with police. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen took hostages, and there are reports of casualties.

Unconfirmed reports in the local media say several young men were being sought in Aktobe, a city of some 300,000 residents in northwest Kazakhstan.

They are believed to have robbed two gun shops. The police and the armed men reportedly clashed with each other in a firefight. Some media said the gunmen took several hostages.

The authorities are reportedly evacuating shopping malls in the area and are treating the emergency as a counter-terrorism operation.